Cricket team moves into camp ahead of WC qualifiers

Jone Wesele, second left, bowls during the Fiji cricket team training at Albert Park in Suva yesterday. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU

THE national cricket side preparing for the East Asia Pacific T20 World Cup qualifier will be moving into camp on Sunday.

The side will remain in camp until they depart for New Zealand at the end of the month.

Team captain Josefa Rika said his side was aiming to do well as they prepared for the ever important World Cricket League Division 7 Competition to be played in Botswana in April.

"We've had a few months to prepare and everything is going to plan," Rika said.

"We've concentrated on fitness over the last couple of months with a few aerobics and specialised fitness sessions organised by national coach Joeli Mateyawa.

"We're now working on our game and skills set for the remainder of the preparations and the boys all seem fit and performing well on the pitch which is important."

He said the national players had taken control of the weekly Suva club competition with all players performing consistently for their respective clubs each week.

"This should no doubt be a positive sign for the side preparing to take on the best of the region next month.

"Joeli (Mateyawa) has done a great job and the fitness levels are outstanding, we understand our strengths and if we stick to them we are sure we will do well and that is what we will be working on for the next two weeks," Rika said.

The side will play two warm-up matches in Auckland in the lead-up to the competition.